The presence of Volkswagen at this year’s Paris Motor Show (1 to 16 October) is all about “Think New.”: in presenting the world premiere of an iconic design study, Volkswagen introduces a new ambassador to the automotive world.

This one-of-a-kind concept car signals the Volkswagen brand’s entry into a new era: because the vehicle is as revolutionary as the Beetle was seven decades ago before it evolved into the world’s best-selling car of the century. The concept car has the potential to make history with its completely new vehicle concept. The production vehicle which follows will be the first Volkswagen to hit the market based on the new modular electrification kit (MEB).

Volkswagen’s statement certainly isn’t subtle.

We were just talking about the need for a revolutionary vehicle. Other companies have promised a revolution, but none have delivered so far. Even Tesla’s cars are still grounded in tradition, albeit with a hefty dose of technology. Could Volkswagen introduce a car that will truly change vehicles as we know them?

Odds are pretty good that the car in question will be technologically advanced and have innovative features, but it has to be pretty dang special to be remembered as revolutionary. If the concept has four wheels, a steering wheel, and fits within the footprint of standard cars, I’m not convinced that it’ll be as important as Volkswagen hopes.

Plus, Volkswagen faces some formidable competition in the form of the Chevy Bolt—the electric car that launches this year, cost about $30,000, and have a range of about 238 miles.